Rangers boss Redknapp also confirmed Lassana Diarra has completed a medical at Loftus Road ahead of his move from Lokomotiv Moscow.

Remy failed a medical at Liverpool at the start of the summer, but Chelsea invoked his release clause in a deal confirmed as 10.5 million pounds by QPR.

"Obviously we had a spanner thrown in the works when I got a call at 12 o'clock today to say Loic was leaving,'' said Redknapp.

"That was a massive shock to me, I didn't expect that at all. I never had any idea that he would be leaving, it never entered my mind that he would leave.

"He would have played today, he didn't refuse to play but I took the decision to remove him. He worked yesterday with the team and I never had any idea he would be leaving.

"It's not his fault, I'm not criticising him: he's gone to Chelsea, the Champions League, it's very difficult. We could all sit here and say he shouldn't do it, but it's a fantastic opportunity for the boy and difficult to turn down.

"He's had the buy-out clause and it's got to be the cheapest buy of the century, but there's nothing that we could do about it.''

Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Diarra left Lokomotiv Moscow after rows with coach Leonid Kuchuk, and watched Saturday's match from the stands.

Redknapp will now chase a striker to replace Remy before Monday's 11pm transfer deadline, with Ajax's Kolbeinn Sigthorsson heavily touted.

"The chairman's been great: he's been excellent, but we're not looking to spend £10million on a striker,'' he said. "We've got Charlie and Bobby [Zamora], so it's an area that we're looking at.''

Redknapp revealed Austin only came through two training sessions ahead of Saturday's encounter, as he continues recovery from hamstring trouble.

"He's had a hamstring [injury] all week, Thursday was the first time he's trained for two weeks,'' said Redknapp.

"So to get 60-odd minutes out of him today was a bonus.

"The win was important for us; we worked very hard today so that's well-deserved.''